Sabbir Rahman recorded his fifth first-class century after an eight-year wait, crafting a resilient knock to rescue Rajshahi from the brink of defeat against Khulna at Mirpur. Playing in his 84th first-class match, the experienced middle-order batter compiled an invaluable 113 runs off 221 deliveries, ensuring his side secured a hard-fought draw on the final day.
Sabbir last crossed the three-figure mark in first-class cricket back in June 2018, when he hit 165 for Bangladesh ‘A’ against Sri Lanka ‘A’ in Chattogram. His long-awaited return to form at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium provided a stark reminder of his credentials following an extended period away from the international spotlight.
Rajshahi faced an uphill battle after a disastrous first innings in which they collapsed to just 119 all out. Forced to follow on under heavy pressure, they mounted a spirited revival in their second attempt. Entering the final day at 300 for 3, Rajshahi continued their steady march behind the calm partnership between captain Pritom Kumar and Sabbir. Pritom departed after a solid 44, leaving Sabbir to anchor the remaining overs with disciplined shot selection.
Sabbir accumulated his 113 runs with eight boundaries and a towering six, anchoring the middle and lower order with impressive patience. By the time he was dismissed as the ninth wicket with the total at 474, he had safely batted Khulna out of contention for a win. Rajshahi reached 500 for 9 before both captains agreed to a draw, completing a remarkable turnaround driven by Sabbir’s stamina.
Simultaneously, in Cox’s Bazar, Chattogram registered a dominant victory over Barishal. Chattogram laid the groundwork with a massive first-innings total of 576 before rolling Barishal out for 282 to enforce the follow-on. Barishal resumed their second innings on the final morning at 149 for 4, showing brief resistance through Rafsan Al Mahmud and Moinul Islam. The pair took their side to 226 for 4 at lunch, raising hopes of a gritty draw.
However, the afternoon session belonged entirely to Chattogram’s bowling attack. Following the dismissals of Rafsan for 72 and Moinul for 41, Barishal’s remaining batting order crumbled, folding for 293. Chattogram wrapped up a resounding victory by an inning and one run.
Left-arm spinner Ashraful Hasan Rohan led the attack with figures of 5 for 77, while fellow spinner Hasan Murad claimed two wickets. Murad’s performance was particularly historic, as he reached the coveted milestone of 200 first-class wickets. The victory gave Chattogram their first win of the season, lifting them to 11 points alongside bonus points, while Barishal remain winless after consecutive defeats.
Sabbir’s patient century will undoubtedly bolster his confidence after years of inconsistent returns. Whether this innings reopens the door to national selection will depend heavily on his ability to maintain this standard in upcoming domestic fixtures, but his match-saving heroics at Mirpur prove he retains the composure needed on the big stage.
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